Therapeutic heat-treatment apparatus.



APPLICATION TILED MAR. 25. I9l6.

Patented Oct. 31,1916.

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H. V. BARCLAY.

THERAPEUTIC HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR-25.1915.

Patented Oct. 31,1916.

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UNITED STA i I S THERAPEUTIC HEAT-TREATMENT APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed March 25, 1916. Serial No. 86,600.

in cases where dry heat is to be applied locally.

Devices now in the market for heat treatment are deficient, to some extent, in their efiiciency, safety, and convenience in use; in all of which respects my improvements are designed to satisfy the deficiencies, and

thus to provide an apparatus more capable of fulfilling the requirements in heat treatment.

' IVith these objects in view my invention consists of a heat chamber which is open at both ends, for closure by aprons; the cross sectional contour of said chamber being vertically oblong, to conveniently receive a patients limb for treatment Without unduly extending the area of the chamber. Said chamber is adjustably mounted on supports so that it may be regulated as to its height from the surface, to thus accommodate it to the desired vertical position for the reception of a leg or arm, according to the recumbent, sitting, or other posture of the patient, and the relative position of the seat; the adjustment being of simple and easily varied character.

The heat chamber is provided with an external channel, which extends upwardly thereabout from a point below said chamber; providing an air passage in which air is heated from an alcohol lamp or other source of heat; said lamp having a swiveled connection with the heat chamber, whereby it is supported and rendered capable of swinging outwardly from beneath the apparatus, for purposes of refilling, etc.

The heated air is allowed to enter the heat chamber through screened apertures, at opposite sides thereof, near its upper portion, the lower and intermediate portions of said chamber wall being protected by non-inflammable, insulating material.

Hitherto, in apparatus for heat treatment, the patients arm or leg, when introduced therein, has been supported within the heat chamber, and the pressure created upon the part held within theheat chamber, by its pressure contact with the supporting medium therein, is found to be deleterious, because circulation in that part is thereby retarded; which means that the part undergoing treat-' ment is thus rendered incapable of withstanding the degree of temperature to which it might otherwise be subjected, for curative purposes, if free from contact supporting pressure within the heat zone. Therefore, my improved apparatus is provided with a'holder for a supporting band or element, upon which the arm or leg, undergoingtreatment within the chamber, may rest outside said chamber, to be free from the objection stated. Said holder may comprise a pair of horizontal rods, adjustably mounted on the apparatus, and extending ou-twardly at one orboth ends thereof. Aband orstrip of suitable material may be carried by these rods, to serve as a rest, outside the heat chamber, for a leg orarm, the pressure thereon, through the support thus afforded,

occurring outside the heat chamber, while the part affected is contained within said heat chamber.

The usual apron covering for each open end of the heat chamber effects a closure about that portion of the body beyond the aifected part which is placed within the heat chamber, said closure occurring between said affected part and the part where the support aforesaid is provided.

Other features and advantages of my said invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a rear end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.l of Fig. 8, and Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the burner clevice.

In therapeutic apparatus for heat treatment, where the heat application is to be made locally, difficulty has been experienced in fitting the part afiected in appropriate height relation to the apparatus, that said part may be applied, with the greatest convenience, to or within the heat chamber; this condition existing particularly in private houses and places not especially equipped with adjustable invalid chairs and couches, such as are found in hospitals, sanitariums, &c. Furthermore, the present day apparatus for heat treatment are of bulky character, and not capable of being readily disassembled for portage, although it frequently happens that a physician could use such apparatus to advantage, if able to quickly pack it in small compass, for removal to a patients home, to be there reassembled. Hence, a feature of my improved apparatus resides in its complete and quick demountability, its component elements being easily removable-and as easily put together again. Thus, the heating chamber 1 has the leg sockets 2, which are secured thereto, and arranged, at diverging angles, at opposite sides of the heat chamber, near each end thereof; said sockets being tubular in character, to slidably receive the legs 3. A set screw 4 in each socket 2 serves to bind a leg 4 therein in a desired position. Obviously the adjustment as tothe height of the chamber 1 is variable within wide limits.

The chamber 1 is a horizontal tube, open at both ends, and in section of oblong, curvilinear contour, its vertical extent exceeding its lateral extent. This is for the purpose of permitting the patients upended foot, also the crooked knee, to enter the chamber without contacting with the walls thereof; and at the same time to avoid unduly increasing the interior area of said chamber, that maximum temperature efficiencies may be attained, through the medium of a properly proportioned chamber of restricted area.

An external air heating channel is formed by means of a sheathing 5, spaced apart from the chamber 1, providing a passage 6, which extends about said chamber 1, for a portion of its length, from the bottom thereof to near its upper portion. A bottom opening 7 in said sheathing has fitted therein a bell shaped intake 8, having a depending flange 9, with an opening at its rear side to receive a heater 10; which latter may be an alcohol or other vapor lamp, with a circular wick 11, whose upper edge may be inturned, to avoid outward splashing of the fuel. Lamp 10 is carried by a bar 12, whose outer end is inturned, forming a bracket or double bearing 13, with alined orifices, to fit slidably over a vertical post 14, that is secured to and depends from chamber 1.

' A set screw 15, carried by bracket 13, impinges upon post 14, to hold lamp 10 in its adjusted position within flange 9, beneath intake 8. By releasing set screw 15, the bracket 13 will slide down post 14 until lamp 10 clears flange 9, and then the lamp may be swung upon post 14 outside the apparatus, to be there safely and conveniently replenished with fuel. Post 14 has a stop 16 which limits the descent of bracket 13, and also serves as a bearing to support the lamp when the set screw is released.

The flame of the lamp may be regulated and extinguished by means of a damper l'l, carried by a rod 18, which is slidable through a transverse aperture in post 14, said rod 18 having a handle 19 by which it can be manipulated.

lVhen the lamp is burning, in position beneath the intake, its flame enters passage 6, heating the air therein, which ascends about the chamber 1, and enters said chamber through the openings 20, located near the upper portion of said chamber, in opposite sides thereof; said openings being guarded by wire mesh 21.

The shell 22 comprising the chamber 1 may be of metal and lined, inside and outside, with sheets of asbestos or other noninflammable, insulating material 23.

The upper portion of the chamber 1 may have a circulation outlet with regulating slidevalve 24. A thermometer 25 may also be provided.

Slidable through straps 26, at opposite sides of chamber 1, exterior thereof, are horizontal rods 27, said rods being adjustable, forwardly and rearwardly, and serving, at either or both ends of the chamber 1, to carry between them a strap or band 28, which forms a support for the patients leg or arm. If desired, a support may also be carried by the hooks 29, within the chamber 1, but I consider the supporting means described, whereby pressure contact between the limb and its support occurs outside the heat chamber, to constitute an important and novel step in this art, for the reasons I previously set forth. For example, if the foot only is to be subjected to heat treat ment, the patient whether reclining or sitting up, may rest his leg upon the support 28, at the front end of and outside the heat chamber, leaving the foot entirely free from contact within said chamber. Or, if the knee is to be treated, the foot may be ex tended beyond the rear end of the chamher, and there supported, in the same man ner, outside the heat chamber. In such instance, also, the leg may have similar support, outside the heat chamber, at its forward end. Other examples will occur to the practitioner where the outside supports may be employed for the purpose assigned.

The usual aprons 30, shown in dotted lines, fit over the openings at both ends of the heat chamber, and are fitted over the limb or other body portion in the usual way, to inclose the afiectedpart within the heat zone.

Variations may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my said invention, and parts thereof used without others.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic heat treatment apparatus comprising a horizontal, tubular heat chamber, a sheathing extending about the outer, lower and side portions of said heat chamber, in spaced relation therewith, forming a continuous heating passage, a source of heat for said passage, and means of communication between said passage and the upper portion of said heat chamber.

2. A therapeutic heat treatment apparatus comprising a horizontal, tubular heat chamber, vertically oblong in cross section, a sheathing extending about the outer, lower and side portions of said heat chamber, in spaced relation therewith, forming a continuous heat passage, a source of heat for said passage, and means of communication between said passage and the upper portion of said heat chamber. a

3. In a therapeutic heat treatment apparatus, having a horizontally tubular heat chamber, the combination of a limb rest, located exteriorly of said heat chamber, and a support therefor, whereby the afiected Copies of this patent may be obtained for limb portion may be extended, free from pressure contact, within said heat chamber. a. In a therapeutic heat treatment appa- =ratus, having a horizontally tubular heat chamber, open at both ends, and a support therefor, the combination .of a pair of horizontal rods, slidably mounted at opposite sides of said chamber, said rods projecting beyond said chamber, and a supporting member slung between the projecting ends of said rods, to form a limb rest, exterior of said chamber, whereby the affected limb portion may extend, free from pressure contact, within the heat zone.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan,

the city, coun'y, and State of New York, this 23d day of March, A. D. 1916.

I-IJALMAR V. BARCLAY.

\Vitnesses F. \V. BARKER, M. S. BARKER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

